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Technology Instruction and Integration
GISD Technology Resources
This site is created to help inform and guide you with some of your technology needs. It is intended to be a resource, and yes, there are many more wonderful resources available to you at the tips of your fingers!
If you have any technology problems, please utilize the "GISD Help Desk" so our technology department may assist you in a timely manner.
Technology can be overwhelming when you are first learning how to use everything in your classroom and also being comfortable with your students using the technology. The GISD Technology Department is here to help smooth this transition. If you need assistance, please reach out to us and let us know how we can assist you. Many of the district resources are included on this site with some helpful links and/or videos that have been created by various sources.
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Canva is a complete design tool for everyone! Use ClassLink to sign in with your school Google account and begin creating! Their site has tons of training tutorials, too! You can create amazing videos here, too. Their video tutorials are terrific! -
Common Troubleshooting Help Desk Topics:
Keyboard not typing the correct letters - Check the language setting on the Chromebook
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Click on the lower right-hand corner of the display (settings)
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Look for "Keyboard"
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Make sure the language is set for "US" and not another language
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Chromebook not turning on - Try a "Refresh"
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The refresh key is above the #4 Power (hold both down for about 10 seconds and let go)
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Wait about 10 seconds
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Power back up
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After it comes back on, check your battery. It may be really low and need to charge.
Skillshop Training - Get Started
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The classroom phones are easy to use, but there are several features that will be helpful to know more about: Directory, History, VoiceMail, and Transfer.
Voicemail Quick Reference Card
*Reminder:
To dial out, dial "9" first to access an outside line. -
According to CIPA and E-Rate requirements, school districts receiving E-Rate funds must "provide for educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response." In an effort to educate students about safety online and cyberbullying, and to meet these requirements at GISD, appropriate grade-level videos will be shown to our students during specified times relayed by the school counselor or principal for each campus.
Digital Citizenship for CIPA and e-Rate.pdf (Common Sense Media, pg. 2 shows grade-level resources)
Digital Citizenship Week - October 20-24, 2025 (Common Sense Media)
Family resources to continue the conversation from CommonSense.org
Pre-K - 2nd Grade
(2 videos: 5 min, 30 sec)
Pause & Think Online
Pausa y piensa en la red
My Online Neighborhood
Mi vecindario en línea -- VERSIÓN ANTIGUA3rd - 5th Grade
(3 videos: 6 min, 5 sec)Follow the Digital Trail What's Cyberbullying? Mindful Messaging 6th - 8th Grade
(3 videos: 9 min, 33 sec)
Oversharing: Think Before You Post
Emma's Story: Cyberbullied by a Best Friend
Teen Voices: Oversharing and Your Digital Footprint9th - 12th Grade
(3 videos: 10 min, 35 sec)
Abbas's Story: Pride In Your Digital FootprintTeens Talk Back - Cyberbullying Teen Voices: Who Are You on Social Media? -
Intro Video (Spring 2021)
Training Notes (Fall 2021)
Training Video (Fall 2021)
Resource from Kristi Daws @ JISD
15 Sec Gif Tutorials for GoGuardian
by Ali WorshamTip: keep the "/" at the end of a URL to allow sub pages
More GoGuardian Resources
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GoGuardian Teacher Support
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GoGuardian Teacher Training Course (Online Course: Free to GoGuardian Users)
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GoGuardian Updates and Best Practices (Recorded Webinar)
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MacBook Air Basics - Mac Manual Guide for Beginners - New to Mac
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Graham ISD Welcomes You to ParentSquare
Graham ISD uses the ParentSquare platform for the district, school, and classroom communications, primarily with email, text, and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent/guardian, using their email address and/or phone number (use the email and phone number that you have provided to your school and is in our Skyward Student Information System).
ParentSquare Academy
(sign in w/school account)
Previously "Merged"
(change as of July 2025)
Appointment Sign-Ups (demo video)
Demonstration of how to use Appointment Sign Ups with an example case for scheduling Parent Conferences.*Share these two-minute tips with your parents to walk them through signing up: English Spanish
ParentSquare Help
*must be signed in to see this resourceNEW Parent Training Video: Parent 101 (English)- Everything your parents need to fully engage with ParentSquare – from log-ins to sign-ups. Click link to learn more.
We also have the same Parent 101 training available in Spanish! You can watch the Padre 101 Training Video learn more. -
Graham ISD updated the existing Promethean boards in the elementary, junior high, and some of the high school classrooms during the fall of 2021. These Promethean Titanium boards and the ActivPanel 9 boards are very easy to use. There are some wonderful resources available on the Promethean site, and the below links will help you get started using your board.
GISD Teachers -
Get Started Using Your Board from Day OneChrome (sign in to Chrome instead of Chromium)
Online Courses from Promethean:
Select which board you have in your room > Login to Enroll > Select Sign in with Google > Take this Course
If you want to take other courses, you may filter the options based on your board.
Creating a Promethean account and roaming profile on the ActivPanel 9
Helpful "How Tos"
Screensharing to Your Promethean Board with iPad (use it like a document/web camera)
Video - 6 minPromethean/Inspire Basics
(you may need to download to view-old board connection)ActivInspire 3.0 Migration Guide
Promethean Video Tutorials Recordings
(Terrific Trainings) -
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Region9EdTech will be hosting monthly Lunch & Learn sessions this year. These will be 30 minute Zoom sessions that are recorded and posted on their site for your viewing at your convenience. What a great way to learn about effective, efficient tools and strategies for using technology in the classroom!
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Future Ready Schools - UnDisrupted (Dr. Adam Phyall and Carl Hooker)
The Shake Up Learning Show with Kasey Bell
10 Minute Teacher(Vicki Davis)
TCEA Webinars
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Edu Tech It Out (Ali Worsham)
Best Sites and Apps for Digital Storytelling (Diana Restifo)
Eight Chrome Extensions & Sites You May Not Know (Sara Qualls)
End of the Year Activities (Lori Gracey)
28 Free QR Code Read Aloud Cards in Spanish (Emily Hopkins) -- *bonus preventing ads using Wakelet
10 Amazing Features of Canva for Education (Jene Long and Sallee Clark)
(GISD now has SSO for teachers--when you login, just select SSO)Sharing Google Docs with QR Codes (Robert Abraham ~ Teq Blog)
Teaching Sites & Apps Starter Pack (from Tech & Learning)
Looking for sites and apps to help you in the classroom and during instruction?
Here are a few recent T&L reader favorites to get you started:
50 Sites & Apps for K-12 Education Games (By Diana Restifo , David Kapuler)
Free Virtual Reality Resources in YouTube (by Lori Gracey)
2000 Lesson Plan Templates and Ideas for K-12 (by Lori Gracey)
Digital Math Tools (by Lori Gracey)
MUST-HAVE Google Skills for Teachers (Kasey Bell, Podcast)
Jamboard Version History (H Tech Team - Technology Integration)
Use Camera Features on Chromebook (i.e.-Scan QR Codes) (Chromebook Help)
Mindful March - a good reminder for all of us! (www.actionforhappines.org)
Teaching Digitally Resource Guide (by Kasey Bell and Nadine Gilkison)
“What’s New? What’s Hot? What’s Cool?” (by Janet Corder & Joan Gore - resource shared at TCEA 2021)
Classroomscreen (Mr. Bozeman shared this resource with me last week and it has some really cool tools.)
Edutopia ~7 Guidelines for Setting Up Clear Online Lessons (By Elizabeth Skopec) Essential Apps for the Physical and Digital Classroom (By Vicki Davis)
Shake Up Learning~Back to School with G Suite: 6 Online Activities (by Kacey Bell)
Student Expectations for Meet and Zoom (template) -Life Learning Passion, EdTech (@Jenn_Calderon_)
Graham ISD Technology & Integration Coordinator
Padgett Thigpen
This is my 33rd year as an educator! I have experienced many technological advances during my teaching experience (27 years in the classroom); however, over the past few years, ALL educators have had to learn to use technology tools in ways they never imagined they would need to.
As the Technology Instruction and Integration Coordinator for Graham ISD, I look forward to working with you and assisting with your technology integration needs.
